St Catharine’s Catholic Primary School inherently promotes good relations between people and groups of all kinds as a matter of course. As a Catholic school, we promote ‘welcome’ to all as part of our ethos and works to eliminate discrimination.
The Curriculum is carefully constructed to promote diversity across a broad range of subjects such as: English text map contains a broad range of male and female authors, authors with specific disabilities and those from different cultures; Science progression plan covers scientists of different gender, race and those with disabilities; Religious Education programme allows opportunities to learn about different religions on a rolling programme basis.
Meanwhile the Curriculum is under constant review and changes are made accordingly- for example artists have been changed to include more female artists, and from a wider range of cultural backgrounds.
In September 2021, St Catharine’s Catholic Primary School began its journey towards achieving ‘dyslexia-friendly’ status and is adopting new strategies, including better use of technology, to meet additional learning needs.
Since 2021, the school community has participated in a whole school ‘Little People, Big Dreams’ initiative. The work is based around a sizeable and full set of biographies of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. The set is diverse and there are many contrasting role-models to inspire the children. Each child will be able to identify with someone on a number of levels including gender, disability and race. Books are displayed centrally at school and are rotated to reflect areas of focus e.g. during Black History month.
We consult and involve those who may be affected by inequality. Parental and pupil views are sought on a regular basis, and school responds to feedback.
All pupils are encouraged to participate in school life, for example through involvement with School Parliament and Chaplaincy work. All children have opportunities to speak and perform, and to represent their school/house in sporting events.
Any allegations of bullying are carefully considered and any form of prejudice-motivated bullying or poor behaviour is taken seriously by the staff, and not tolerated. There are high behaviour expectations in the school and derogatory language is rarely heard but is not accepted.
The whole school calendar of events includes opportunities to raise awareness of issues around race, disability and gender. Planned aspects have included: Dyslexia Awareness Week, Rosa Parks Day, International Women’s Day, World Autism Awareness Day, World Refugee Day. Assembly time is used to cover relevant issues and the school environment reflects
With small cohort numbers, the school tracks the performance and behaviour of each child as an individual, but also compares groups of children by gender, SEND, ethnicity and so on. School then acts to support pupils accordingly. For example boys’ writing is a target area for 2022/2023, with increased opportunities for all, including boys, to write about things that interest them across the curriculum.
With regards to ethnicity, school is predominately White British with some ethnic groups containing only one pupil. School is mindful of sharing any specific ethnicity targets for areas of underachievement/attendance/ punctuality/behaviour on this website as it may be possible for the school community to identify specific individuals.
School advances equality of opportunity through all aspects of school life including staff recruitment and election of parent governors. School is accessible to all.
